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How to Resolve Python "SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print'"

The SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print'. Did you mean print(...)? is a very common error, especially for those transitioning from Python 2 to Python 3 or beginners encountering older code examples. This error occurs because print, which was a statement in Python 2, became a built-in function in Python 3, requiring parentheses for invocation.

This guide explains this fundamental change and shows how to fix the error by adopting the correct Python 3 syntax.

Understanding the Error: print Statement vs. print() Function​

The way Python handles printing output changed significantly between major versions:

  • Python 2: print was a special statement. You used it like this: print "Hello" or print my_variable. No parentheses were required around the items to be printed unless you needed specific formatting control not relevant here.
  • Python 3: print was redesigned as a built-in function. Like all functions, it must be called using parentheses (), enclosing the arguments you want to print: print("Hello") or print(my_variable).

The SyntaxError: Missing parentheses... occurs because the Python 3 interpreter encounters the keyword print followed by something else (like a variable or a string literal) without the expected parentheses () that signify a function call.

The Cause: Using Python 2 print Syntax in Python 3​

The error arises when you write code using the old Python 2 statement syntax but run it using a Python 3 interpreter.

# Error Scenario (running with Python 3)
message = "Hello from Python 2 style!"

try:
    # ⛔️ SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print'. Did you mean print(...)?
    print message
except SyntaxError as e:
    print(f"Caught Error: {e}")

name = "Alice"
try:
    # ⛔️ SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print'. Did you mean print(...)?
    print "User:", name
except SyntaxError as e:
    print(f"Caught Error: {e}")
note

Python 3 syntax requires the parentheses for the function call.

The Solution: Call print() as a Function with Parentheses​

The fix is straightforward: add parentheses () around the item(s) you want to print, treating print as a function call.

# ✅ Corrected Code (for Python 3)
message = "Hello from Python 3 style!"
name = "Tom"

# Call print() as a function
print(message)
# Output: Hello from Python 3 style!

# Pass multiple arguments separated by commas inside the parentheses
print("User:", name)
# Output: User: Tom

# Printing results of expressions
print("Length:", len(message))
# Output: Length: 26

print("Calculation:", 5 * 10)
# Output: Calculation: 50

Output:

Hello from Python 3 style!
User: Tom
Length: 26
Calculation: 50
note

This is the standard and only correct way to print in Python 3 and later versions.

Using the print() Function in Python 3​

Being a function, print() in Python 3 accepts various arguments:

Separator (sep) and End (end) Arguments​

  • sep: The string inserted between arguments (defaults to a space ' ').
  • end: The string appended after the last value (defaults to a newline '\n').
print("apple", "banana", "cherry")
# Output: apple banana cherry

print("apple", "banana", "cherry", sep=", ")
# Output: apple, banana, cherry

print("Line 1", end=" | ")
print("Line 2")
# Output: Line 1 | Line 2

Output:

apple banana cherry
apple, banana, cherry
Line 1 | Line 2

Using with f-strings​

print() is commonly used with f-strings for easy formatting:

item = "Widget"
price = 19.99
quantity = 3

print(f"Item: {item}, Price: ${price:.2f}, Total: ${price * quantity:.2f}")
# Output: Item: Widget, Price: $19.99, Total: $59.97

Cross-Version Compatibility (__future__ import)​

If you are writing code that needs to run on both Python 2.7 and Python 3.x, you can force Python 2 to adopt the Python 3 print() function behavior by adding this special import at the very top of your Python 2 file:

# Add this line at the absolute beginning of your .py file
from __future__ import print_function

# Now you can use print() function syntax, even in Python 2.7
print("This works like Python 3 print now")
print("Value:", 42)

This allows you to write code using the Python 3 print() syntax that remains compatible with Python 2.7. However, for new projects targeting only Python 3, this import is unnecessary.

Automated Code Conversion (2to3 tool)​

For larger Python 2 codebases, Python provides a utility called 2to3 that can automatically convert much of the Python 2 syntax (including print statements) to Python 3 syntax.

You can run it from your terminal:

# Convert a single file in place (creates a backup)
2to3 -w your_script.py

# Convert all Python files in the current directory and subdirectories
2to3 -w .

This tool handles the print statement conversion automatically, adding the necessary parentheses.

Conclusion​

The SyntaxError: Missing parentheses in call to 'print' is a clear indicator of using outdated Python 2 print statement syntax in a Python 3 environment.

  • The solution is fundamental to Python 3: Always use print() as a function, enclosing the arguments within parentheses.
  • If you need cross-version compatibility, use from __future__ import print_function. For converting existing Python 2 code, consider using the 2to3 tool. Embracing the print() function syntax is essential for writing correct and modern Python code.

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